I'm an active Mormon with a leadership calling.

Perhaps it's because I'm a convert, but I still drink alcohol (in moderation) and do not feel bad about it. When asked whether I obey the Word of Wisdom, I think to myself, "it's a word of wisdom... yes, I agree that drinking in excess is harmful, but I try not to drink in excess - so, yes, I follow the Word of Wisdom."

Perhaps I'm a master of rationalization, but it works for me.

Were any of you closet drinkers while in the Morg?

I wasn't a closet drinker.... I believed in telling the truth

so I told my Bishop that I didn't keep the word of wisdom. Which

means I smoked, I drank and I did grass occasionally. I was

very very social and believed in having fun and enjoying life

with friends. Glad now that I did, since I no longer believed.




When I was a TBM I thought the worst thing was to lie to my

Bishop so I never did. What a fool I was. I was honest with

them and they lied to me.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2015 08:25PM by saucie.

I also thought I shouldn't lie, even though the truth got me in trouble. I couldn't fake belief, and that brought me grief. What kind of a religion prefers fakery over honesty? I began to wonder.

I don't think you are doing anything wrong, but don't another Mormon know your secret because they will tell the bishop, then gossip might go around that you're an alcoholic. In the eyes of other Mormons one drink makes you an addict.

This really isn't a Mormon issue. It's an issue of personal integrity. I've never known anyone who in their old age regretted not having compromised their integrity more frequently.

"Judge not that ye be not judged."

I've always thought that was good advice. But if you think the person being quoted was purely mythical, then ignoring him wouldn't be compromising your integrity.

>>It's an issue of personal integrity.

I remember sitting in a work meeting once, and coming to the conclusion that my bosses did not want to hear the truth. They wanted their preferred response. So I gave that to them. Everyone exited the meeting happy.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2017 07:52PM by summer.

I gave up drinking when I joined the church and thirty years later started drinking again when I resigned the church. I no longer drink and it was my choice this time. The decision was totally mine and was not influenced by a cult demand for obedience.

I used to drink when traveling on business, rationalizing via "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," or "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." There are many, many Mormons like that.

reminded me of something. My old boss from when I was in my 20s told me that when he and other Mormons went on company travel, they always went to strip clubs. He told me he had given that up. He was about 55. BUT many of the Mormon men went. He didn't tell me if they drank or not. He was very active Mormon.

My dad drank alcohol and coffee and chewed tobacco. He didn't have a TR most of his life, but that was because he never tried to get one. He did have a TR later in life, but I would assume he told the bishops as that was just his way.

All his siblings and their spouses (except my mother) drank regularly. When my uncle was called as a bishop, he quit serving alcohol at family functions.

My otherwise TBM ex-husband had that mentality as well, as he said that if he was at a business function that had alcohol, he would drink. He claimed it was "bad business" not to have alcohol in those situations. At the same time, he had a major fit when I had iced tea before I was dunked as a convert. I thought that since it was iced, it was allowed. I then learned to hide my iced tea drinking from my ex at that point.

In the mid-80's I was on a very stressful business trip in Southern Colorado. I had been out in the hot sun all day with the temps in the high 90's. I sell farm specialty farm machinery.

I was very TBM at the time & even as a teenager hardly ever had a sip of alcohol.

The mechanic that was traveling with me commented on how much he was looking forward to a cold beer when we were finished. After dinner I was relaxing in my room when I decided I was going to walk over to a close mini-mart & buy some beer. To this day I still don't know what processed me to do this. I bought two big cans of beer & took them to my room. They did indeed hydrate me & after consuming them I slept like a baby.

Interesting thought I had while writing this. It was on a trip about 5 years later to the same area that I made the decision to leave Mormonism. Must be the high elevation in Alamosa CO!

Tonight, I am enjoying a nice glass of Jamison whisky. Life is good!

Cheers!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2015 12:28AM by travis.

I Drink. I don't feel guilty and I lie about it in the interviews. I don't think it is necessary to tell everything because sometimes the truth is not very useful and it does not build faith in me.

Didn't BKP say that sometimes the truth is not useful?

I'm sure he meant in situations like here described /sarc

But seriously, if sometimes the truth isn't useful, than why does it matter at all, Boyd?

If you are in the closet about it, you feel enough guilt that you feel the need to hide.

TBM friend announced on FB yesterday that they "love wine". No other comment. I'm not quite sure how to take that.

This person is bic and nazi tbm for at least 40 years. Hopefully this means they've found the truth.

Another TBM has been encouraging my daughter(exmo) to use pot in a vaporizer to help back pain. Apparently this TBM and TBM spouse have been using it for a couple years with success. When asked how that fits with mormonism, the attitude is that it's NONE of their business. I couldn't agree more.

I recommend coffee enemas for those who truly follow crap. The word of wisdom says that coffee drinkers live longer and are healthier. Tonight I'm having gay sex with my bishop while drinking whisky. LChaim.

Careful that you don't get too much sugar and/or cream in that coffee. ;)

You are over thinking this. They aren't asking for your opinion, just the correct answer. Study before hand and you'll do just fine.

Do you believe in the church? If you don't believe in it then who cares what you tell the bishop. Why even bother going through with an interview? If it is something you really believe in, then maybe you should ask yourself why the Holy Ghost is t telling you that you are doing something wrong.

Oh this is so NOT ok with you!!

Why did you, a convert (and no, there are no greater zealots to a cause,) come to THIS site to announce you're a closetmodrinker?

Are you looking for permission from the apostates? Those destined for Outer Darkness?

Is this your ONLY issue with TSCC or is it symptomatic of something much deeper?

You already know the answers to those questions.

All the information and personal experiences available on this site as it relates to the damage caused by Mormonism, and you come here looking for validation that it is OK to drink alcohol?

There are people that post on this site, that have suffered, and continue to suffer from the effects of Mormonism. Do you really want them to tell you it is OK to drink a beer and continue to spread the lies? WTF??

Oh no! Next you're gonna say, "Ssshhhhhhh, I'm wearing real underware. I sneak them under my garmies!"


Yes, you get a 10 for your mental gymnastics.

Another sign that Mormons are just like other religions when it comes to cherry picking.

News flash: the real world doesn't care about your moderate drinking. Ask yourself why you subject yourself to that kind of guilt-inducing tribal behavior and nonsense.

OP, pay no attention to those judging you, those who have made assumptions about your decisions and life situations. Perhaps they see the words "active mormon," and are triggered to revert to judgmental behavior, or see a target for their own pain. Had you written "active" without "Mormon," you would likely have received no judgment, only help. There are many "active" exmos, and all shades in between.

Lying in the interviews is usually highly recommended, as there are no professionals bound by rules of confidentiality, nor are they trained to "counsel." You know as well as anyone else that there are no special powers involved.

The interviews are not designed to help, but to control. You're an adult; you can control yourself without "help." The WoW in no way keeps pace with medical research, and uses faulty arguments to support its "recomendations." You need not "be a master at rationalization" to disregard those recommendations. You need only be rational.

Living your life as you see fit, including enjoying alcohol, is not a matter of "guilt." It's no one's business but your own if you drink, or, how active you may be, or your reasons for either.

I don't know if you've seen the regular "Friday night drinking" threads on the board, but c'mon in. Plenty of folks with whom to share your enjoyment of a drink or two.

Welcome to the board. :)

The instant you sit down for an "interview" you cease to live your life as you see fit.

Viking, to suggest that some on this site would use an "Active Mormon" as "a target for their pain" is crap!

The thread is two years old, people. The OP may have come and gone a long time ago.

Personally, if Mormons want to drink alcohol, coffee, tea, or whatever, I have no objection.

Good eye Summer. I don't care either. Some "exmos" worry too much about Mormons who "sin", in my opinion. Let 'em have a good time if they want. Nothing seems to get the ole exmo juices going like a good hypocrite Mormon. Some of my best exmo friends used to be hypocrite Mormons. I had fun with them then, just like now. Exmos.......chill a little.

Thanks summer. I missed that too.

Wonder why someone (looks like "coffee enema"?) resurrected it. Swift.

in a restaurant. My DH knew that my belief in the first was unraveling very rapidly. Over the course of my 17 years in the church, I had not touched tea - and I grew up in a tea-drinking family. (Never liked coffee.)

It wasn't long afterwards that I ordered a Margarita. I'd had alcohol prior to becoming a convert, in mid-life, but never a heavy drinker.

To this day (and there have been a good many of them), every time I sip an alcoholic beverage, it reminds me very happily of the church I left behind.

Why do people want to rebel by drinking stuff that tastes nasty, is expensive, is toxic, and often leads to abuse?

I tried booze after quitting the church and instantly realized I did not need that, and didn't want the church controlling me in a different way - drinking because they say I can't.

My kids drink - one is living with us temporarily and amazing how much garbage is produced with beer and booze bottles and cans and boxes.

It is kind of a religion - all sorts of ceremonies and paraphernalia - special glasses, etc. Strange.

I was thinking of the people I know that at some point had to quit drinking. Like the lady next door who died of liver failure, leaving a young daughter who was my daughter's friend.

Then a guy at work whose wife made him quit. Final straw was the night he was drunk and pee'd in her dresser drawer.

Several guys at work that have gone through addiction recovery programs. And many that couldn't hold a job due to getting drunk. One guy we hired had run a factory for Texaco, but we discovered he couldn't remember what we were telling him due to alcohol affect on brain.

So, yeah for you! You're showing them a thing or two!!!

Free Man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why do people want to rebel by drinking stuff that
> tastes nasty, is expensive, is toxic, and often
> leads to abuse?
>
> I tried booze after quitting the church and
> instantly realized I did not need that, and didn't
> want the church controlling me in a different way
> - drinking because they say I can't.
>
> My kids drink - one is living with us temporarily
> and amazing how much garbage is produced with beer
> and booze bottles and cans and boxes.
>
> It is kind of a religion - all sorts of ceremonies
> and paraphernalia - special glasses, etc.
> Strange.
>
> I was thinking of the people I know that at some
> point had to quit drinking. Like the lady next
> door who died of liver failure, leaving a young
> daughter who was my daughter's friend.
>
> Then a guy at work whose wife made him quit.
> Final straw was the night he was drunk and pee'd
> in her dresser drawer.
>
> Several guys at work that have gone through
> addiction recovery programs. And many that
> couldn't hold a job due to getting drunk. One
> guy we hired had run a factory for Texaco, but we
> discovered he couldn't remember what we were
> telling him due to alcohol affect on brain.
>
> So, yeah for you! You're showing them a thing
> or two!!!

YES,so many valid points in your comment.

Absolutely, Free Man. As someone "brung low" by alcohol myself in the past (but never a mormon), I find it sad that alcohol is so often seen as THE way to rebel against a mormon upbringing and prove you're out.

Sure, some people can handle it, but it shouldn't be seen as an essential part of non-mo adulthood. It's also a dangerous drug (and yes, it's more dangerous than many of the illegal ones, look at the death stats...).

Thanks for pointing it out so well.

Tom in Paris

>>Why do people want to rebel by drinking stuff that tastes nasty, is expensive, is toxic, and often leads to abuse?

Because it can enhance life when used in moderation. You don't hear about the people who use it in moderation because they come to work on time and sober. They get the job done and go home. They don't present a problem for you and thus stay off your radar.

Numerous scientific studies support the use of red wine in moderation to enhance health.

I support anyone who doesn't want to drink, but I don't like to see light to moderate, responsible alcohol use demonized either.

You want expensive? Take the Mormon church. *That's* expensive.

"You want expensive? Take the Mormon church. *That's* expensive."

It's also toxic AF.

summer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Numerous scientific studies support the use of red
> wine in moderation to enhance health.

And don't forget beer!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2016/08/05/beer-facts_n_4151575.html

Alcohol abuse is a problem. Just like any other abuse.
Moderate use of alcohol isn't a problem.

Always take Mormonism in moderation.

I go to church with my wife. I told her I don't believe and I don't want to go. She says she enjoys the time together, so I go. I wear my Sunday best. Priesthood meeting I don't do because it's too sparsely populated, so I go to Starbucks and get a coffee sometimes. If I don't change my clothes it feels a little awkward. I don't know, but I imagine some people see me as a hypocrite, coming straight from church to buy a cup of coffee.

So why is it NOT ok to drink any type of Alcohol, Coffee, Tea? I converted t to LDS with my husband who is an alcoholic however hasn't drank since 2007. I've heard several ppl of Mormon faith on conversation state to me about their prescription drugs for pain ect and As long as its prescribed by a Dr it's ok? Really!! I call BS on this word of wisdom and As long as God knows in my heart

As long as God knows my intentions of my heart are not to drink in excess to get drunk then I say it's ok to drink my wine and drink my mushroom organic coffee!!!

And what about Diet Pepsi? It's harmful and has aspartame proven to be harmful to you!! I don't get it...its ok to drink this crap but not Coffee, wine or tea...just makes no sense. I think the prophets need to get a calling from God and re-write the Words of Wisdom. However to me don't care cuz I will do what I want anyhow. It's NOT a sin to drink alcohol.

My first beer and my ordination as a priest may have happened on the same weekend.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2017 07:24PM by Lethbridge Reprobate.

Closet porn watcher and masturbater maybe but not a drinker, i think i would have died without porn so it was only bad because everyone said it was in my opinion.

Well, the church lied to you.

Okay I've read through all your comments.. I'm a brand new Mormon and I'm in my 60s and very youthful I've lived all over the world and I've seen a lot of things I can tell you the Mormons are the best people I've ever met ..they really live their faith but they should reconsider the drinking, the coffee, etc ..their history does not prove it out ..it seems to be more a history of the times we lived in in the United States pre-prohibition, Probation, etcetera

Welcome, Mermaid. I agree with you that the WoW was more a reflection of the thinking of the times. There have been so many recent scientific studies in support of coffee, tea, and even red wine that it no longer makes sense to prohibit those items. The WoW even permits "mild barley drinks" (beer.)

Stick around. There are a lot of things the missionaries never told you. Many board members here used to be some of the most faithful members of the Mormon church. They are good people, too. :)

"Mild Barley Drinks"....hmmmm...I suppose single malt scotch is out of the question....damn!!

Whatever mental process Mormons use to justify their behavior is beyond me.